Last Updated: June 17th, 2026 by Michael Griffin
It’s not surprising that Lee Smith once thought about playing basketball. The 6’5” hulk had hands that made a baseball look like a cue ball when he held it. He started pitching later in his childhood than most, but he had an arm that impressed scouts. The Cubs grabbed him in the second round of the 1975 Amateur Draft out of high school, and he was in the Majors five years later. Here are 10 moments that defined his legacy as one of the most feared closers in the game.
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Breaking the All-Time Saves Record—With a Wink
On April 13, 1993, Lee Smith saved his 358th game, passing Jeff Reardon and staking his claim atop baseball’s closer mountain. It was just the start of an ascent that would see him add more than 100 more saves to that record.
1991: The Year Lee Led the League in Saves
In 1991, Lee racked up a league-leading 47 saves with the St. Louis Cardinals. While it might have been tough for Cubs fans to see their former closer break the mark in a Cardinals uniform, the big man was all about business.
Blowing Away 1,000 Career Strikeouts as a Closer
Few relievers ever ring up a thousand Ks, but Lee’s fastball made it inevitable. He wasn’t fazed by any hitter, no matter how great they were.
He Was a Seven-Time All-Star
Seven All-Star nods over his career proved his dominance wasn’t a fluke. The hulking righty would challenge anyone who came to the plate, and he made the opposing league’s hitter look silly.
Holding the All-Time Saves Record for 13 Years
For years, 478 was the number that closers would aspire for. It wasn’t until 2006 that Trevor Hoffman finally surpassed him, but for 13 long years, Lee Smith was the undisputed king of the ninth-inning mountain.
Dominating the NL Again in 1992
As if leading the league once wasn’t enough, Lee did it again in 1992, racking up 43 saves for the Cardinals. He was nearly unhittable, posting a stellar 2.19 ERA and proving that his 1991 performance was no fluke. This back-to-back dominance cemented his status as the premier closer in the National League.
Winning the Rolaids Relief Man Award—Three Times!
Lee didn’t just cause his managers to feel comfortable about his closing out games —he was literally the “Relief Man of the Year” in 1991, 1992, and 1994. When he came striding in, they knew the game was over.
Closing Games for 8 Different Teams—And Still Dominant
From Chicago to Montreal to a Blink And You’ll Miss It stint in the Bronx, Lee slammed the door for eight MLB teams — bringing the same intimidating frame and ice-cold stare each time.
Leading the NL in Saves From Wrigley’s Mound
1983 was a rough time for the Cubs. Wins were a rare thing, but Lee gave Cubs fans something to cheer about. He led the entire National League with 29 saves which gave Chicago fans hope.
Hall of Fame Call: Finally, Immortalized in Cooperstown
It took a while (22 years), but in 2019, Lee got the call every ballplayer dreams about: the Hall of Fame. His speech was an excellent one and proved that it was worth the wait.